(Missouri State Sports Information)
SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State women’s basketball coach Kellie Harper announced Wednesday that four high school seniors signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Lady Bears. Mya Bhinhar, Jasmine Franklin, Sydney Manning and Sydney Wilson will join the program as freshmen for the 2018-19 season.
“We are thrilled to be adding a talented group to our roster next year,” Harper said of her fifth signing class at MSU. “These four athletes bring a variety of skills and many intangibles that we want in our program. In addition to their basketball abilities, these young ladies are wonderful people who will be an asset to the Missouri State community.”
Mya Bhinhar • 5-10 • G • Owasso, Okla. • Owasso High
A four-year starter at Owasso High, Bhinhar (pronounced MY-uh BIN-harr) has played all over court in her careeer but settled in as the Rams’ point guard her final two seasons. She filled the stat sheet as a junior with averages of 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks, earning Tulsa Elite 8 honors from Vype for a second consecutive season. As a sophomore, Bhinhar averaged 11.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals, helping the Rams to a Class 6A runner-up finish. Bhinhar posted averages of 8.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.6 blocks as a freshman, and also played three seasons of volleyball for the Rams.
Harper on Bhinhar:
“Mya Bhinhar is a fast point guard who can score or distribute. She excels in the open court by creating opportunities for herself and her teammates. Mya is a high-energy, competitive player.”
Jasmine Franklin • 6-2 • F • Fayetteville, Ark. • Fayetteville High
Franklin has helped Fayetteville High to a combined 75-7 record and two Arkansas Class 7A state championships in her first three seasons. The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Player of the Year as a junior after helping the Lady Bulldogs to a 30-2 record and No. 10 national ranking, Franklin led her team in rebounding (8.1/game), blocks (41) and field goal percentage (.642), including making 85 percent of her shots in the fourth quarter. She also earned all-state honors from three publications that season.
As a junior, Franklin led FHS with 6.0 rebounds per game, 28 blocks and 65 percent shooting as an all-conference pick and Democrat-Gazette Newcomer of the Year for a state tournament quarterfinal team. Fayetteville High also won a state championship in her freshman season. Franklin is a three-time Arkansas state champion throwing the shot put, and the 2017 champion and two-time runner-up in the discus at the state track and field meet.
Harper on Franklin:
“Jasmine Franklin is an athletic post player with great hands. She moves and runs the floor well and finishes at the basket. Because of her high motor and athletic ability, Jasmine is terrific rebounder.”
Sydney Manning • 5-9 • G • Edmond, Okla. • Cashion High
Manning enters her senior year with more than 1,200 career points, spending her first three seasons playing for her mother Totsy Manning at Deer Creek High before transferring to Cashion High to continue playing for her mom as a senior. Manning was the Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a junior, averaging 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.2 steals for the Class 6A runner-up squad. She also shot 49 percent overall and 44 percent from the beyond the arc, earning a spot on the Daily Oklahoman’s Super 5 and Big All-City teams.
Manning was also a Big All-City and first-team all-conference pick as a sophomore with averages of 14.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. As a freshman, Manning was the state tournament MVP after scoring 20 points in the 5A championship game win, finishing the season with averages of 12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.2 assists.
Harper on Manning:
“Sydney Manning is a talented guard and an excellent shooter. She can handle the ball, pass and make plays for herself and her teammates. Sydney is an intelligent and savvy player.”
Sydney Wilson • 6-0 • G • Overland Park, Kan. • Olathe East High
Wilson enters her fourth season as a starter for Olathe East in 2017-18, and has helped the Hawks improve their record each season to an 18-5 mark and Sunflower League championship her junior campaign as the conference’s player of the year. She averaged 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals as a junior, earning first-team all-state honors from the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. She added Class 6A first-team all-state and all class second-team all-state honors from the Topeka Capital-Journal and Sports in Kansas as well. Additionally, she was finalist for the DiRenna Award, given to the top male and female high school basketball players in the Kansas City area.
She earned second-team all-state honors from the KBCA after a sophomore season in which she averaged 11.7 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Wilson won Sunflower League Freshman of the Year honors in 2015 with averages of seven points, four boards, two assists and two steals. Wilson’s father, Troy, played parts of seven seasons in the NFL with four different teams.
Harper on Wilson:
“Sydney Wilson is a long wing who is smooth and athletic. Her skill set allows her to pass, rebound, defend and score in a variety of ways. Sydney is a hard-working, versatile player.”
